If you travel to Beijing for just for one or two days, join in a daily basis bus tour is a smart choice. Usually the bus tour price is very cheap and you will have chance to meet people from other countries and make friends with them. Here I sum up some travel tips before you take a bus tour in Beijing.
1. Book a hotel near the city center.
Many tour companies only pick up guests within the third ring road of Beijing. For those who live far away from the city center. Travelers have to take a taxi to the pick-up point. Centrally located hotels maximize your sightseeing efficiency and save you money.
2. Check the list of inclusions.
Before you book the tour, you should check what are included in the price. Usually the one day join-in tour includes pick-up and drop off service, tour coach, English speaking tour guide, lunch and entrance fees. The Olympic Stadium entrance fees are usually excluded. You can only take photos outside the stadium.
3. Take care of your personal belongings.
This is a join-in tour, so you will travel together on the save day with many strangers. You had better take your valuables like camera with you, and do not leave them on bus.
4. Have a good sleep before travel.
Usually the tour bus will pick up lots of guests from one hotel to another. Considering the traffic condition in Beijing, you may need to get up early and wait in the hotel lobby. The common pick-up time is around 7:00-9:00. For some hiking tours like Jinshanling Great Wall, you need to wait in the lobby as early as 5:30. So a good sleep may keep you full of vigor the next day.
5. Make friends on bus.
On the bus you will meet people from different countries. Do not just keep silent in your seat. Try to talk with others and make friends with them, I think this is also part of your travel experience.
